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Turban Colour

leroy

SPNer
Jul 16, 2005
14
0
UK
WJKWJF


What colour turban is acceptable for a Gursikh? What is the reason?

What is the significance of kesri colour And why?


Can anyone help?

Thanks

Leroy.:)
 

drkhalsa

SPNer
Sep 16, 2004
1,308
54
Dear Leroy

As per my understanding there is hardly any significance of the color of the turban a gursikh should Wear but still there are some color historically assosiated with sikh history like blue color and saffron color but there is no obligation of sikh for any color

I found an interesting topic on turban which as well discuss about the color of it !!

Bans and turbans
A matter of honour
The French government’s move to ban the turban has triggered protests from Sikhs across the world. This is not the first time the turban has run into trouble. It has seen some trying times on foreign shores during its long and chequered history. It has stirred opposition, curiosity, ridicule and was even spurned in cultures unfamiliar with what it stood for. The turban has existed in India since time immemorial as a symbol of pride and honour. After 9/11, turbaned persons have been targeted by bigots in the US and Europe. Much like the enterprising Sikh, who ventures unafraid to distant lands, the turban too has endured. The turban tells its tale of travails and triumph in the words of Roopinder Singh.
french%20sikhs.jpg

Sikh students of a school in France
More pictures...

Come to think of it, I am just yards of fine muslin cloth in a myriad of colours and, sometimes, designs. Yet when I adorn the head of those who wear me, I am the epitome of grace, culture and honour. Wars have been fought over me, people have become brothers when they exchange me with another of my kin — Maharaja Ranjit Singh gained the Kohinoor diamond in this fashion. I am a turban.
Now they want to ban me in schools in France. But how can they do it? So many men who wore me died fighting for France. I have been a crown on the heads of historical figures, and of those who are not even footnotes of history. I have made my presence felt in the continents of Asia and Africa for centuries. And if you look back at civilisations, you’ll find my mention in the Old Testament and in Egyptian, Turkish and Indian texts and art; in fact, almost everywhere where civilisation made an impact. Why, even relief medallions at Sanchi and Bharhut stupas, dating back to 2nd Century BC or earlier, feature me.
The Egyptians called me pjr, I am referred to as the turban in Biblical texts, in Persian I am called dastar andin Arabic one of the words for me is imamah. In Hindi I am called pagree and in Punjabi am referred to as both pagari or dastar. Other terms for me include murassa, khirki-dar, Faruq Shahi, atpati, kuladar, pechdar and Safawi, named after the dynasty of the same name in Iran.
I am a symbol of honour, which is why if someone talks of soiling a turban, it implies being dishonoured. In fact, a great honour being conferred upon someone by royalty is dastar a fazilat. Today, I will confine this narration to India and, in particular, to the Sikhs. In passing, let me mention that I was an item of formal wear in the southern states, where Iyers used silk cloth. In Maharashtra, there was the pheta and, of course, Rajasthan is well known for my colourful cousins called pagari, pencha, sela, or safa. Museums in Udaipur and Jodhpur have hundreds of styles on display.
What is my ideal length? Actually, it varies, based on the area, style and the person. Historians will bear me out when I tell you that Prince Salim, the 16th-century Sultan of Turkey, wore 11 yards of malmal, and other Muslim nobles followed suit. Nowadays, it varies from 5 to 8 yards. The Nihang Sikhs wear turbans, which are many times this size!
In Mughal India, when a reign changed, the new Emperor evolved a style uniquely his own, which was, of course, widely followed. Just look at how Emperors Babur, Hamayun, Akbar, Jahangir and Shahjahan, and their successors changed the style.
For the Sikhs, I am what Guru Gobind Singh ordered his Khalsa to wear at all times. However, because of my distinctiveness, the Sikhs have gone through various trials and tribulations in the last three centuries. They were easily identified and persecuted during the reign of the Mughals and from time to time thereafter, but have remained steadfast in their devotion to me and all that I stand for. The slogan: "Pagari sambhal oye Jatta," by Shaheed Bhagat Singh's uncle became a clarion call for independence from British colonialism.
They have refused to take me off, even if asked to do so as a safety measure. Memorably, in World War II, Sikh soldiers who were fighting for the British refused to wear steel helmets, despite knowing that the causalities among them would be higher if they did so. When told by their officers that the cost of pensions etc. accruing from their death was too much for the British Empire to bear, they unanimously agreed to forego any pension if they got a head injury. They still refused to dispense with me. Nowadays, the dispute is about crash helmets for motorcyclists, and the governments of Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and the UK have amended their laws to make special allowance for me.
Someone has documented that during World Wars I and II, 83,055 turbaned Sikh soldiers died and 1,09,045 were wounded when fighting under the command of the Allied forces
Many Sikhs, settled in the UK following World War II, faced discrimination because of me. In 1969, however, the Sikh bus company employees in Wolverhampton, led by Sohan Singh Jolly, won the right to wear turbans while on duty. This marked the successful culmination of a long-running campaign.
Other skirmishes followed, notably in Manchester, and it was only in 1982 that the House of Lords, Britain's highest court, ruled that Sikhs are a distinct ethnic group entitled to protection under the Race Relations Act. Nowadays, in the UK, turban-wearing Sikhs can be seen in all walks of life, including the police and the army.
In the US, I was called all kinds of names when Sikh immigrants first touched the shores of California at the end of the 19th century. They were derisively called "rag heads" because of me. Turbaned Bhagat Singh Thind served in the US army during World War I, but was denied American citizenship because he was "non-European White." Now many Sikhs wear me proudly, many hold top jobs, but the armed forces still discriminate against me. I have faced problems because of ignorance and bigotry after 9/11, but it has always been a continuing struggle to educate people about what I stand for.
In Canada, I faced problems during the early 1900s and, in fact, the Sikhs were disfranchised by British Columbia in 1907, and the Komagatu Maru tragedy, where 376 passengers of the ship were not allowed to disembark at Vancouver, followed in 1914. However, Canada gave voting rights to these people in 1947 and things changed.
In 1990, Baltej Singh Dhillon proudly wore me and joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Some bigoted Canadians protested, but finally the ruling was in my favour a few years later.
In Africa, turbaned Sikhs did not face much problem, except for dealing with curiosity, which always happens. The same was much the case in New Zealand and Australia, except for one time when some members of the Australian Returned Services League tried to have Sikhs debarred from one of their clubs because they refused to remove their turbans on the premises of the club. I understand that the RSL objectors had to back down.
Anyway, so much for my being discriminated against. Most of the time I strike a distinctive note, which attracts attention. And many people are curious about how I am tied. Well, there are various ways, and indeed many distinct styles have evolved, expressing the individuality of various persons as well as the togetherness of various groups.
The way I have been tied often reflected the society of the time and of course there was always the sartorial element. A matching turban, a contrasting one, a bandhni turban with a splash of colours, a lehariya turban in which pattern makes waves, the African turban with its flat folds. There have been so many turbans, so many ways in which the Sikhs have tied them....
The patterns that the Sikhs wear come primarily from the Rajputs of Rajasthan, where there are thousands of my cousins. Since societal life is stratified in that area, colours and patterns represent specific castes or sub-groups. The way they are tied is also strictly laid down.
For the Sikhs, however, there are no hard and fast rules, though various social groups and geographical areas such as Malwa, Majha, Peshawar, Pothohar and Afghanistan have distinct styles. The Jats tie me differently from the non-Jats. The former, for example, do not wear patterns, just plain ones.
As for the colour, the elderly wear white, which is also a political colour of the Congress Party. The Akalis support royal blue, electric blue and saffron. Most Sikhs have at least half a dozen colours, which they wear to suit the occasion or the attire. Princely states, however, had distinctive colours of their own (see box).
Colours of the turban
Indian armed forces
BlackCavalry and Armoured CorpsGreenInfantryMaroonSpecial Forces and Para- commandos
Princely states
The following were the colours favoured for formal turbans by the royalty of the princely states of Punjab:PatialaPink (court) and lemon.FaridkotHara Ferozi (turquoise).NabhaMaroonJindOrange
Black, however, became a colour of specific protest during the British Raj after the tragic killings of the Sikhs at Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, now in Pakistan, where the local mahants, in connivance with the British authorities, had killed a large number of pilgrims.
In fact, Baba Kharak Singh, a prominent leader of the time, wore me in black. He was jailed by the British from 1922 to 1927. Hundreds of other Sikhs also wore black at that time and many were jailed, but remained steadfast in their demand till the British relented. In the troubled decade of the 1980s, saffron became a colour of discontent.
Though I am overwhelmingly worn by men, women too sport turbans, especially those belonging to the Akhand Kirtani Jatha of Bhai Randhir Singh and also American women converts to Sikhism. They follow the injunction made by Guru Gobind Singh who asked Mai Bhago to wear the kachera and tie a turban. Though small in number, these ladies do cut a dashing figure.
When you talk of me, you have to keep in mind the royal house of Patiala, which evolved the distinctive Patiala Shahi turban in which a thumb is used to create a depression near the forehead. The Patiala turban was standardised during the reign of Maharaja Bhupendra Singh.
Urdu poet Faiz wrote a beautiful couplet about me. Sari-khusrau se naazi-kaj kutahi chin bhi jata hai/ Kutha-i-Khusaravi se bue sultani nahai jati. While the turban may be taken from the head of a Sultan, the aroma of royalty will not leave the turban.
I am rooted in history that is inseparable from the spiritual journey of the believer. This reason alone is sufficient for me not to be taken lightly or easily dismissed, even though I have, like the symbols that stem out of other religions, become for many followers more an expression of religiosity and cultural values than of spirituality.
I have to be respected for what I stand for, and those who tie me have to reflect on that too, since it is their conduct that will give me the power to stand for honour. "You judge a man by his turban, gait and his speech," maintains an ancient Persian saying. How true
 
Apr 4, 2007
934
29
i know this is a really old thread, but i found it interesting and wanted to add my small input...

i agree that any colour is fine. but some colours are more common than others.

i have read that white represents purity of soul and is best for meditation, black represents humility, the surrender of the ego. you'll often see kirtanis and raagis wearing black. saffron (keseri) is the colour of faith and wisdom in many faiths, and blue is the colour of the soldier, the colour of strength and courage.

i usually wear a shade of blue, personally, as it really does make me feel stronger. though i have been known to wear pink just to match my clothes. :)
 
Jan 6, 2005
3,450
3,762
Metro-Vancouver, B.C., Canada
UNRELATED TO RELIGON, BUT DIFFERENT PROSPECTIVE - FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY :

The Meaning Behind Colors
By Debbie Jensen


As we endure the mood of others for both good and bad, we also endure the mood deriving from colors for both good and bad. Colors are the visual manifestation of moods placed on objects. To bear this out, notice what Jason O’Connor observed in 2005 from the article "How to Choose Your Website Colors”:

Yellow:
Positive: Caution, brightness, intelligence, joy, organization, Spring time
Negative: Criticism, laziness, or cynicism

Blue:
Positive: Tranquility, love, acceptance, patience, understanding, cooperation, comfort, loyalty and security
Negative: Fear, coldness, passivity and depression

Orange:
Positive: Steadfastness, courage, confidence, friendliness, and cheerfulness, warmth, excitement and energy
Negative: Ignorance, inferiority, sluggishness and superiority

Purple:
Positive: Royalty, sophistication, religion
Negative: Bruised or foreboding

Green:
Positive: Monëy, health, food, nature, hope, growth, freshness, soothing, sharing, and responsiveness
Negative: Envy, greed, constriction, guilt, jealousy and disorder

Black:
Positive: Dramatic, classy, committed, serious
Negative: Evil, death, ignorance, coldness

White:
Positive: Pure, fresh, easy, cleanliness or goodness
Negative: Blind, winter, cold, distant

From the above list of color associations, can you see how the descriptions for the colors would change according to where you live? The descriptions (associated with colors as illustrated above) are subjective to change and may differ for each culture and subculture across the world.

Even though red was not mentioned, studies have shown that it is the love-hate color. Even in the animal kingdom, studies show that bugs flash their red body parts to warn their enemies.

We react to colors and associate them to memories, objects, people, and places. In part, this may have something to do with how colors throw off wavelengths. Environmentally speaking, we can't see sound waves, but we can hear them. Normally, we can't see heat waves, but we feel them. With color waves, we don't hear or feel them, but we see them. There are other considerations we need to remember about colors too.

Colors have a voice. James Stockton, the author of Designer’s Guide to Color (1984) wrote: “The many psychological aspects of color often seen more emotional and personal than scientific and determining agreement in reactions to colors is sometimes difficult. . . The ‘voice’ of a color depends largely on the colors that are place next to it. . .” The expression of the “voice” of colors really appeals to me, because this is what I see too.

If the colors could speak, they would. Colors are wavelengths; we just can’t hear them. Again, colors do make sound and do have a voice, we just can’t hear them. This is why, our color choices for our home and décor, our cars, and clothing speak volumes about us. We are compatible with the sound waves emanating from our choice the colors that surround us.

Colors are used as non-verbal communication in every aspect of our lives whether we realize it or not. Sometimes the color expressions are so powerful that the influence of color can be louder than the spoken word. (Revised 2/16/2006)


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Jensen
 
Apr 4, 2007
934
29
that was interesting... but did you notice that it's very western culture-centric?

in india, white is the colour of mourning, people wear yellow in fall (diwali) or in punjab it makes me think of the mustard flowering time (winter). purple is a religious colour for catholics, while green is for muslims and keseri is for buddhists, hindus, and sikhs. :)

it's fascinating to see the small differences between cultures can even manifest in how we react to colour. :)
 

GITIKA KAUR

SPNer
Sep 7, 2006
28
2
delhi,india
wjkk wjkf
sikh should wear either blue or kesri turban as maskeen ji and jasbeer singh khalsa ji always worn blue turban blue is a symbol of calm an peace

the importance of kesri color

n the Sikh World, a banner is called the Nishan Sahib. , a mark of
identity and Sahib is added for respect. It is sometimes referred to as Kesri Jhanda (Kesri - saffron colored.
.
Nishan Sahib is ensign of the Khalsa Panth

thankz and regards
gitika kaur khalsa​
 
Apr 4, 2007
934
29
wjkk wjkf
sikh should wear either blue or kesri turban as maskeen ji and jasbeer singh khalsa ji always worn blue turban blue is a symbol of calm an peace

the importance of kesri color

n the Sikh World, a banner is called the Nishan Sahib. , a mark of
identity and Sahib is added for respect. It is sometimes referred to as Kesri Jhanda (Kesri - saffron colored.
.
Nishan Sahib is ensign of the Khalsa Panth

thankz and regards
gitika kaur khalsa

who is jasbeer singh khalsa and why should i care what color turban he wore? ;)

seriously though... as far as i know guru sahib makes no restrictions or suggestions regarding turban color. it is 100% personal choice.

EDIT:

i have done a google search for Jasbir Singh Khalsa, the "panth rattan" and consistently see him in blue or black... thanks for pointing out his name, he seems to be quite and admirable man! :)
 

kds1980

SPNer
Apr 3, 2005
4,502
2,743
43
INDIA
who is jasbeer singh khalsa and why should i care what color turban he wore? ;)

seriously though... as far as i know guru sahib makes no restrictions or suggestions regarding turban color. it is 100% personal choice.

Jasbeer singh khalsa is very famous raagi.Some sikhs try to take inspiration from these people.

Btw i agree with you there is no restriction on color of turban .Its 10% matter of personal choice.
 

drkhalsa

SPNer
Sep 16, 2004
1,308
54
Jasbeer Singh Khalsa Khane walle Was very good Raagi/Preacher /Katha wachak he passed away recently .
I am still not very sure If I am talking about the right person !

About Turban color Rainbow is the only limit i guess!
 

KulwantK

SPNer
Oct 31, 2007
164
40
Sat Nam and Greetings, everyone!
Interestingly enough, speaking of colors, and colors for turbans, there is a Singh tartan, (you can look it up -it has its own site) and it is a very nice mostly blue plaid pattern. Also, plaids did not originally come from Scotland--they came from, yes, you know it already- India!
Cheers and blessings-
Kulwant
 

Damo_Singh

SPNer
Nov 2, 2007
15
0
Pottsville, PA
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fathe,

I just wanted to thank each of you on this forum for your posts. They are so educational. I enjoyed reading the post by drkhalsa in which the turban speaks. As I read the posts I realize how much I don't know and how little I do know. I am thankful that the only thing on the final example is our love and devotion to Waheguru and our fellowman. I own the material for a blue turban, but I have not yet started to fear it. I hope to one day be able to wear each of the 5K's.http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/members/drkhalsa.html
 
Aug 6, 2006
255
313
SSA to all sikh sangat
A true sikh is not dependent of colours, places or casts. In sikhism no importance has been given to the wordly colours, the most important colour for a sikh is the " Naam da rang".
Any how wear any colour which pleases you the best
 

amarpreet41

SPNer
Mar 5, 2007
9
3
Personal choice...

I got around 22-23 different turban colors and hardly repeat one in a month. While in malaysia, people recognize me as the one wearing nice turban colors matching with shirts/trousers.

Proud to be a sikh and want sikhs to be recognized in this special way.

Regards
Amarpreet singh





Sat Nam and Greetings, everyone!
Interestingly enough, speaking of colors, and colors for turbans, there is a Singh tartan, (you can look it up -it has its own site) and it is a very nice mostly blue plaid pattern. Also, plaids did not originally come from Scotland--they came from, yes, you know it already- India!
Cheers and blessings-
Kulwant
 

Sherab

SPNer
Mar 26, 2007
441
20
USA
Sikhs should not wear red or green according to some maryadas, because red is a "hindu" color, and green is a "muslim" color, but it depends how strict you are...
 

amarpreet41

SPNer
Mar 5, 2007
9
3
Sorry, I have different views here.

Is this mentioned in our Rehat Maryada not to wear red or green colors? Sorry for my ignorance..

Rgds
Amarpreet Singh



Sikhs should not wear red or green according to some maryadas, because red is a "hindu" color, and green is a "muslim" color, but it depends how strict you are...
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Sherab

SPNer
Mar 26, 2007
441
20
USA
Sorry, I have different views here.

Is this mentioned in our Rehat Maryada not to wear red or green colors? Sorry for my ignorance..

Rgds
Amarpreet Singh
Not akal takhat's maryada, no.. Damidami taksal and AKJ do though.. but your good for the mainstream, i just prefer Damidami Taksaal :up:

It's what works for me!

Sorry for the confusion bhai ji!

PS. Is your store based in India or malaysia?
 
Apr 4, 2007
934
29
Sikhs should not wear red or green according to some maryadas, because red is a "hindu" color, and green is a "muslim" color, but it depends how strict you are...


that's funny, because muslims in the time of Guru Gobind Singh ji wore blue. :) I've read a poem which describes Guru Gobind Singh ji wearing "arun" which i think is red, and gurbani mentions sikhs as the "soul bride" dressed in red repeatedly.

maybe this is why those old prejudices against certain colours were thrown out when the scholars compiled the akal takht maryada. they're based on inconsistent ideas. :)

oh, and i think most hindus would describe the "hindu color" as saffron/keseri, which we have no problem using to represent sikhs. :)
 

Sherab

SPNer
Mar 26, 2007
441
20
USA
that's funny, because muslims in the time of Guru Gobind Singh ji wore blue. :) I've read a poem which describes Guru Gobind Singh ji wearing "arun" which i think is red, and gurbani mentions sikhs as the "soul bride" dressed in red repeatedly.

maybe this is why those old prejudices against certain colours were thrown out when the scholars compiled the akal takht maryada. they're based on inconsistent ideas. :)

oh, and i think most hindus would describe the "hindu color" as saffron/keseri, which we have no problem using to represent sikhs. :)
That is true... :up:

thank you very much!!

However, i think abstaining from certain colors is good, but it depends on the person.. i get out of control easily, so i prefer to have a "stricter" rehat, to keep me in line, and also too feel like i am "closer" to waheguru... though it is an illusion (maya), to my manmukh mind, its just another way of keeping baba ji in mind...
 

BhagatSingh

SPNer
Apr 24, 2006
2,921
1,655
That is true... :up:

thank you very much!!

However, i think abstaining from certain colors is good, but it depends on the person.. i get out of control easily, so i prefer to have a "stricter" rehat, to keep me in line, and also too feel like i am "closer" to waheguru... though it is an illusion (maya), to my manmukh mind, its just another way of keeping baba ji in mind...
why do u think absatining from certain colours is good?
 

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